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Carroll County, MD Landscaping Rules: Tree Removal & Heritage Trees (2026)

Significant Restrictions

Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Tree removal permit rules in Carroll County, MD, sometimes called heritage tree, protected tree, or street tree ordinances, list which trees require a permit before you can cut them down.

Key Facts

Permit trigger: 40,000 sq ft disturbed or 20,000 sq ft forest cut
Core rule: No cutting/clearing/grading until FCP approved
Replacement ratio: 1 acre replanted per acre of forest removed
Small-lot exception: No on-site replanting duty under 3-acre lots
Maximum criminal fine: $50,000 and up to 1 year jail

Summary

Before cutting, clearing, or grading forest on a covered Carroll County project, developers must get a Forest Conservation Plan approved. Section 150.05(C)(1) bars disturbance until the county signs off, and cleared forest must be replaced acre-for-acre under Section 150.07(C)(1).

These county ordinances apply to unincorporated areas of Carroll County. Incorporated cities within the county may have their own rules that take precedence over county-level regulations.

(C) Enforcement Provisions. (1) If a FCP is required by this chapter, a person may not cut, clear, or grade until the county has approved the FCP. (2) Any person who fails to limit disturbance to the limits-of-disturbance delineated on the FCP shall be in violation of this chapter. (3) The FCP may not be amended without approval from the county.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-15: Supplement contains: Local legislation current through July 30, 2026).

Full Breakdown

02(A)). 11. 05(C)(2). 08. 07(D)); those owners must instead purchase forest bank credit or use off-site mitigation. 05(C)(4)). This permit scheme applies only in the unincorporated county; Westminster, Taneytown, and Carroll's other incorporated towns run separate tree-removal rules.

Violations & Fines

Cutting, clearing, or grading before FCP approval, or exceeding the approved limits-of-disturbance, is a misdemeanor under Section 150.99(A)(2) punishable by up to $50,000 in fines, up to one year in jail, or both, with every day of continued violation charged separately. The county can also issue a stop-work order, seek a civil fine of up to $10,000 per day, and bill $0.30 per noncompliant square foot.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a permit to remove trees on my Carroll County property?

Only if your project meets Chapter 150's threshold, disturbing 40,000 square feet or more, or cutting, clearing, or grading more than 20,000 square feet of forest. Below that, the Forest Conservation chapter does not apply, though other grading or zoning permits may still be required.

How much replacement planting does Carroll County require after forest is cleared?

Section 150.07(C)(1) requires reforestation at a one-to-one ratio: one acre planted for every acre of forest removed, measured to the nearest tenth of an acre, following the technique and siting priorities set out in Section 150.08.

Can I skip replanting if my lot is small?

If your residential lot is under three acres, Section 150.07(D) bars on-site afforestation or reforestation plantings entirely; you satisfy the obligation instead through off-site mitigation, a conservation easement, or purchasing credit from the county's forest bank under Section 150.08(A)(3).

Sources & Official References

[1]Carroll County Code of Ordinances, Chapter 150

Other rules in Carroll County

Fence Regulations: Height LimitsSome Restrictions Parking Rules: RV & Boat ParkingLight Restrictions Weed OrdinancesSome Restrictions Rainwater HarvestingLight Restrictions Parking Rules: Commercial & Oversized VehiclesSome Restrictions Fence Regulations: Retaining WallsSome Restrictions Animal Ordinances: Veterinary Clinic ZoningSome Restrictions Fire Regulations: Propane StorageSome Restrictions

All Carroll County rules

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